Cave Creek, Carefree building permits up

By Curtis Riggs | May 6, 2009

Mainly for home additions, remodels
CAREFREE – Assistant Town Planner Brian Craig has seen an increase in building permits in the early months of 2009.

“My review has picked up and there are a couple of new houses,” Craig said. Most of the new applications are for home remodels or additions.

Carefree has had 44 building permits filed in early 2009. In 2008, 218 building permits were filed.

Craig points out that while permit numbers are still below what they were in early 2008 they are up significantly from what was filed in the winter of 2008.

“It is following a trend we are seeing elsewhere in Arizona,” he said.

Cave Creek Planning Director Ian Cordwell said there have been a few permits for homes in early 2009.

Cave Creek is planning on having 20 permits for new homes in 2009. In a normal year there would be 60 new home applications.

“We are seeing more remodels and additions,” he said “People are making room for college kids coming back or parents moving in and are converting garages.”